I am installing my engine tomorrow on my 1961. The body is off the car. Is it best when I go to install the steering column to have the drag link attached to the 3rd arm or the pitman arm on the steering column? I know I have to drop the body first before installing the steering column. Thanks, Joe DeLuca Member#37862
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Re: C1 DRAG LINK
The drag link can be installed any time from under the vett , not hard at all. Remenber that the short end of the drag link goes forward.Many owner mistakenly put the long end forward which causes it to rubb on the lower Radi. shielding when turning right OR is it left NOOOOOOOO right. -
Re: C1 DRAG LINK
I'm jealous you are doing body off resto. I just had my '61 engine (270 hp)overhauled with all correct & dated parts this past winter. Are you doing all the work? Gonna have car at Carlisle ? Would love to see it. As a new member to NCRS I'm learning a ton from folks like yourself. Just curious...where abouts are you doing your work? I'm looking for original jack,handle & lug wrench for my trunk section. Going to have car judged for first time this Sept. at chapter meet on Long island. Good Luck with your car. Bruce Grandin #39024Comment
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Re: C1 DRAG LINK
Joe,
Congratulations on one of the major milestones on the way to getting your car back on the road! I agree with Roy, the draglink can be put on any time and there is no advantage to installing it now.
Regards, John McGrawComment
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Re: C1 DRAG LINK
Joe -
You may find it easier to install the column/gear assembly to the body first before you drop the body; that's the way the car was built originally. It's mandatory to do it that way on '53-'57 cars, but the '58-up cars are more forgiving due to the removable lower column support at the instrument panel reinforcement.Comment
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Re: C1 DRAG LINK
Joe,
John is exactly right. If you install the column to the body, you do not even need to leave the pitman arm off the box! It would be interesting to know exactly when the column was installed on the line since the interior paint on the top section of the column would indicate that it was there when the interior was painted, but there is no column in sight at that point. Of course, this would not explain the full painted columns of models prior to 58 unless the columns were painted in mass and just waiting on the rack to be picked. This approach would have required a rack of each color column to be available for use at all times and does not seem likely. It would seem more likely that the column traveled with the car and was painted at the same time as the interior, but I have never seen any pictures that would show one way or the other. I have heard others reccomend bolting the box to the frame before installing the body, but this would make it very difficult to install the body over the column.
Regards, John McGrawComment
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Re: C1 DRAG LINK
John -
Believe it or not, the steering column/gear assembly was painted separately prior to assembly to the car, and stored on padded racks near the end of the Trim Line where they were installed.Comment
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Re: C1 DRAG LINK
Thanks John,
That clears up a question that I have had for a long time! I have seen pictures of the column installed at the trim area just before body drop, but have never seen any pictures with the column prior to that.
Regards, John McGrawComment
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